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Context for CDM and philosophy behind CDM
Some definitions
How CDM works
Basic eligibility criteria
Types of CDM projects
Disqualifications
Additionality and baseline assessment

Additionality and baseline assessment

Perhaps both most the important and most elusive concept in CDM is additionality. If a project cannot illustrate additionality, it cannot qualify for CDM or generate CER’s.

In its simplest form the concept merely signifies something that would not have occurred or existed otherwise. Put positively and in legal terms, additionality can best (though tenuously) be described as the concept that is used to establish whether there would be a causal link between the issuance of CER’s to the proponent (ie creating an additional revenue stream) and the achievement of the aims of the CDM, namely emissions reductions and technology transfer.

Additionality is highly technical and will be evaluated by specialists in any CDM project. A tool for the assessment of additionality is now available online at
http://cdm.unfccc.int/EB/Meetings/016/eb16repan1.pdf

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